[Silent stroke and advance in neuroimaging]

Silent stroke showed a yearly increase in our clinic with the advance of neuroimaging. Of the recent 33 cases of cerebrovascular disease, asymptomatic cerebral infarcts unrelated to the presenting stroke were detected in 20 cases (61%) by CT and in 28 (85%) by MRI, respectively. MRI also revealed asymptomatic hemorrhage in 7 (21%) and white matter lesions in 27 (82%). The clinical significance of silent stroke was discussed.